What’s up? There’s definitely some stuff to crow about here, and I’m going to tell you all about it.
AFGRUND come at us with The Age of Dumb, and although the title fits the record cover perfectly, it doesn't do a whole lot to describe what’s inside. The production here is crisp, powerful, yet lean and really lends to the album's grinders. I think only one really crosses the two-minute mark here. This is the sort of thing one would find on Willowtip, which is good, because it is. If you’re looking for originality, definitely look elsewhere--the Nasum worship here is prevalent. That’s not to say this record is a clone; the new songwriting team is fierce and effective at delivering the point, and that point is grind. If this isn’t the best Afgrund release, then it’s really pecking close. Pretty, pretty good. 6 Fucking Pecks.

For the first time since 2007, EVOKEN release a new full-length, and pluck my feathers, it was worth the wait. Profound Lore releases Atra Mors, and well, it’s squawking awesome. This is funeral doom done right, “evoking” some sort of mythical, crawling chaos. This doom lives and breathes. Doom is often a genre eddying in currents that are all too familiar, trappings that, although easily obtained, are difficult to leave behind. Evoken do just that, lending themselves more towards the dISEMBOWELMENT end of things; this record has timing and pacing, from the guttural vocals to the double bass to the atmosphere of the keyboards, these tracks will not bore you. Turn up loud and allow Evoken to take you on their weird demented journey with them; just don’t be surprised at the horrors you may find. 7 Fucking Pecks.

Do you hate Jesus? Well, not as much as GAZA. They do of course remind you of that fact on the No Absolutes in Human Suffering. There’s a lot going on here, and simply to dismiss this as post-hardcore or post-screamo or whatever would be silly. There are hardcore elements, grind elements, crust elements and some doomier little bits here and there. Overall, this thing is nasty, but falls just shy of complete nihilistic terror. They are definitely onto something, though, and that something is downright barbaric at times. I can’t say that I like or even get the artwork, but hey, your old boy Waldo isn’t always the sharpest knife in the drawer. Do yourself a favor and check this out. 6 Fucking Pecks.

Like beer? (Duh), well, so does TANKARD. I mean, the record is called A Girl Called Cerveza. Thrash odes to drinking by a band that shouldn’t have put out a new record. “Hey I get it--Municipal Waste is cool, people dig them, right? They like beer and we used to write about beer and stuff, so like let’s do a record, and sing about what we always did: beer.” So, that basically sums up... well, that’s not entirely true. Tankard are German thrash and are the real deal; they’ve been around forever. Fun thrash ditties about beer and zombies and things like that are basically what they do and what they excel at writing. They succeed, but you know this type of thing is usually cool and then kinda gets less and less funny every time you hear it. By all means, support these guys--they’re having a good time--and pick up AGCC, but check this clip and do yourself a favor and get Zombie Attack. 5 Fucking Pecks.